Michelle Duggar and the Family Council try to torpedo Fayetteville non-discrimination ordinance with lies

On Aug. 19, the Fayetteville City Council will consider an ordinance to prohibit discrimination in public services, housing and employment that adds sexual orientation and family status to the familiar list of categories generally protected by federal law.

It's expected to pass, which is probably why the Arkansas Family Council has ramped up its opposition campaign. After pushing a list of nonsense consequences should the measure pass, the Family Council has now enlisted the help of reality star Michelle Duggar to spread lies about it. Her voice can be heard on a robocall that started making the rounds on Monday in Fayetteville.

Here's an excerpt (hear the whole thing below) of Duggar's message:

"I don’t believe the citizens of Fayetteville would want males with past child predator convictions that claim they are female to have a legal right to enter private areas that are reserved for women and girls. I doubt that Fayetteville parents would stand for a law that would endanger their daughters or allow them to be traumatized by a man joining them in their private space. We should never place the preference of an adult over the safety and innocence of a child. Parents, who do you want undressing next to your daughter at the public swimming pool’s private changing area?"

Maybe Duggar, mother of 19, got some coaching from her eldest son, who works for the legislative arm of an anti-gay hate group. Mama Duggar, by the way, lives in Tontitown, not Fayetteville.

The claim that this ordinance would provide predators with access to women's restrooms in order to assault or leer at girls or women is nothing more than fear-mongering. This ordinance does allow transgender people to use the bathroom in which they feel most comfortable and physically safe. Transgender people — who are far more likely to be the victims of harassment and violence if forced to use a bathroom that is inconsistent with their gender identity or expression — deserve to have the ability to use the bathroom in peace and safety. Using the bathroom is a basic human function and denying that to a person is inhumane. This ordinance has nothing to do with the concerns and examples Ms. Nichols provided — the acts perpetrated by the criminals in those stories will continue to be criminal acts.